Corruption Crackdown: Ex-IAS Officer Sentenced in Money Laundering Case

Retired IAS officer Pradeep Sharma has been sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering related to granting government land to Welspun India Limited at concessional rates. The court also fined him Rs 50,000. Investigations revealed misuse of positions and illegal financial gains through his wife's bank account.

In a significant ruling, a special court on Saturday sentenced retired IAS officer Pradeep Sharma to five years of imprisonment. The verdict stems from a money laundering case linked to the allocation of government land to a private company, Welspun India Limited, at concessional rates between 2003 and 2006 during his tenure as Kutch district collector.

The court not only imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Sharma but also confirmed the confiscation of his properties by the Central government, previously seized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). These proceedings are based on a case first registered in March 2012, alleging violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.

Investigations revealed that Sharma, while chairing the district land pricing committee, channelled the illicit proceeds into his wife's bank account, using them for personal gain, including repaying loans. His actions are said to have caused significant financial loss to the government exchequer, leading to multiple legal charges and subsequent convictions.